Currently reading: Detroit motor show 2011: Hyundai Curb concept

Striking SUV concept launched at the Detroit motor show

Hyundai has revealed its striking new Nissan Qazana-style concept car at the Detroit motor show on Monday.

Called Curb, the concept has been designed at Hyundai’s California design centre and has launched at the show alongside its innovative new Veloster coupe.

The baby SUV has a strong resemblance to 2009’s Nissan Qazana concept, which made production as the Juke, although it appears to be a class above the Juke in size.

The concept further evolves Hyundai’s now familiar ‘fluidic sculpture’ exterior design language. It has a sharply raked front windscreen and a Range Rover Evoque-style narrow glasshouse. The C-pillars slope away to give a coupe-like profile from the side.

Concept car features include large 22-inch Michelin-shod alloys and smaller rear doors, which gare rear hinged to offer improved access for rear passengers. Power comes from a turbocharged 175bhp 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a dual-clutch gearbox.

Its sharply styled futuristic interior comes complete with bucket seats in the front, a touch-screen infotainment system in the centre console and a rotary knob that carries out many of the driver’s commands.

The firm has history in striking SUV concepts; it launched the ix-metro at Frankfurt show in 2009, a car still expected to make production as part of Hyundai’s expansion into new sectors.

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